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“The goal was to create urgency around accommodation for everybody this winter and urgency around bringing the right kind of units online in a matter of months rather than years and so I think we’ve accomplished that with the federal government’s announcement,” he said. “I think we’ve made considerable progress within the last eight or nine weeks and anyone who wants to come in from the cold will have a place to do it within that 10-week timeframe. So I’m pleased with how it’s come together.”
Now that the funding is secured, Iveson said the city will work with social agencies over the next few weeks to “go shopping” for the right sites.
“We’ve been in discussions with a number of hoteliers and also looking at some of the modular sites that the city had previously approved so the money will move quickly and as soon as we have a decision point on that we’ll bring that forward, but our goal will be to move that within weeks,” he said.
Iveson said the city will also be aggressively pushing for a portion of the other $500 million that will be granted to specific projects. A few projects are already in the works, Iveson said, pointing to four planned supportive housing complexes that will provide 150 units. Projects under this stream must be completed within one year of a signed agreement.
The city is working to open up a 24-7 temporary shelter at the Edmonton Convention Centre by Friday, which will accommodate up to 300 residents overnight. The Mustard Seed and Hope Mission are also looking to expand their overnight shelters in order to serve more people at larger spaces while maintaining appropriate physical distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
